Colors of the Oleander Plant

Oleander comes in many colors.

Oleander (Nerium oleander) is a large, evergreen flowering shrub that thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. Upright in habit, it flowers from early summer through fall with clusters of single or double blooms. Many colors are available, with pink cultivars being the most common. Oleander grows in full sun, does not require any special soil and is drought-tolerant once established. It is native to the Mediterranean and is not damaged by pollution or salt spray. All parts of the plant are toxic, so they should not be eaten by humans or pets.

Salmon Pink

Peach

“Sherrie Allen Turner” (N. oleander “Sherrie Allen Turner”), an 8-foot-tall cultivar, is known for its long bloom period of nine months. Its flowers are peach with pink edges and a yellow eye. “Kathryn Childers” (N. oleander “Kathryn Childers”) has lightly scented flowers that shade from peach to pale pink. It reaches 10 feet tall.

About the Author

Since 1981 Janet Bayers has written on travel, real estate trends and gardening for "The Oregonian" newspaper in Portland. Her work also has appeared in “Better Homes & Gardens,” “Traditional Home,” “Outdoor Living” and other shelter magazines. She holds a Master of Arts in linguistics from Michigan State University.